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For current information on this topic, see 2008–09 WHL season.

Saskatoon Blades
City	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
League	Western Hockey League
Conference	Eastern
Division	East
Founded	1964 (1964)-65
Home arena	Credit Union Centre
Colours	Navy blue, royal blue, silver and white
Owner(s)	Jack Brodsky
General manager	Lorne Molleken
Head coach	Lorne Molleken
Website www.saskatoonblades.com

The Saskatoon Blades are a junior ice hockey team in the Eastern Division of the Western Hockey League. They are based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, playing at the 15,195 seat Credit Union Centre.

History

The Saskatoon Blades were originally founded in 1964 as a team in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League and transferred leagues in 1966–67 with the foundation of the Western Hockey League. They are the only team remaining in the league from the WHL's foundation still in their original city (the Regina Pats are also still around, but they dropped out of the WHL for a few seasons early on to go back to the SJHL). The Blades spent many seasons at the old Saskatoon Arena where they built up a strong fanbase and developed many top players. In 1988, they moved to what was then known as Saskatchewan Place (now Credit Union Centre) and hosted the Memorial Cup tournament in May, 1989, where they finished the round robin with a 5–4 victory over the Swift Current Broncos who had a 14 game undefeated streak, which consisted of sweeping through the WHL playoffs and winning their 1st two round robin games. However, the Blades lost in overtime in the Memorial Cup Final to the Broncos. They also lost in the WHL league finals in 1992 and 1994 to the Kamloops Blazers in seven games. The Blades have never won the Ed Chynoweth Cup, and currently have the longest championship drought in the Canadian Hockey League.

The Blades are currently owned by the Brodsky Family. They have been a huge success at the gate. Throughout their existence, the team has had a fierce rivalry with both the Regina Pats and the Prince Albert Raiders. As many of the players are still in their mid-teens, Marion M. Graham Collegiate plays host to many of the players, due to the short distance.

In the 2008–09 Season, the Saskatoon Blades made history by tying a WHL record for most road wins in a single season (28) with the 1999–00 Calgary Hitmen. In that season, the Blades went on to win their first East Division Championship since 1994.

Current roster

As of October 13, 2009.^[1]

Goaltenders
#		Player	Born	Place of birth	Drafted
30		Adam Morrison	1991	Surrey, British Columbia	PHI – 3rd round, 81st overall – 2009
35		Steven Stanford	1990	Calgary, Alberta	Undrafted

Defencemen
#		Player	Born	Place of Birth	Drafted
3		Sam Klassen	1989	Watrous, Saskatchewan	Signed by NYR
4		Teigan Zahn	1990	Bethune, Saskatchewan	CHI – 5th round, 132nd overall – 2008
5		Duncan Siemens	1993	Sherwood Park, Alberta	Eligible 2011
6		Stefan Elliott	1991	North Vancouver, British Columbia	COL – 2nd round, 49th overall – 2009
8		Jyri Niemi	1990	Hämeenkyrö, Finland	NYI – 3rd round, 72nd overall – 2008
23		Tyler Kizuik	1992	Indian Head, Saskatchewan	Eligible 2010
47		Dalton Thrower	1993	North Vancouver, British Columbia	Eligible 2010

Forwards
#		Player	Position	Born	Place of Birth	Drafted
9		Curtis Hamilton	LW	1991	Kelowna, British Columbia	Eligible 2010
17		Derek Hulak — C	LW	1989	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	Undrafted
18		Randy McNaught	RW	1990	Nanaimo, British Columbia	Undrafted
20		Josh Nichols	C	1992	Tsawwassen, British Columbia	Eligible 2011
24		Walker Wintoneak	RW	1989	Flin Flon, Manitoba	Undrafted
25		Burke Gallimore	RW	1991	Edmonton, Alberta	Undrafted
26		Darian Dziurzynski	LW	1991	Lloydminster, Saskatchewan	Undrafted
27		Brett Benson	C	1993	Weyburn, Saskatchewan	Eligible 2011
28		Braeden Johnson	LW	1992	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	Eligible 2010
32		Gaelan Patterson — A	LW	1990	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	CGY – 7th round, 201st overall – 2009
37		Travis Toomey	C	1990	Leduc, Alberta	Undrafted
39		Jeremy Boyer	C	1990	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	Undrafted
41		Charles Inglis	C	1992	Winnipeg, Manitoba	Eligible 2010

NHL alumni

Bernie Federko is the only former Blade in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Retired numbers

• 7 Brent Ashton
• 10 Brian Skrudland
• 15 Bob Bourne
• 22 Wendel Clark
• 24 Bernie Federko

Coaches

Saskatoon Blades Original Logo

• Burns McDonald 1964–65
• George Agar 1964–65 to 1969–70
• George Senick 1969–70*
• Jackie McLeod 1970–71 to 1978–79
• Jerry Engele 1979–80
• Lorne Frey 1980–81
• Daryl Lubiniecki 1981–82 to 1983–84
• Marcel Comeau 1984–85 to 1988–89
• Terry Ruskowski 1989–90 to 1990–91
• Lorne Molleken – 1991–92 to 1994–95
• Donn Clark – 1995–96 to 1997–98
• Willie Desjardins – 1998*
• Brad McCrimmon – 1998–99 to 1999–2000
• Kevin Dickie – 2000–01 to 2003–04
• Jamie Reeve – 2003–04*
• Lorne Molleken – 2004–05 to present

*interm (regular head coach fired, sick or suspended)

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Team records

References

See also

• List of ice hockey teams in Saskatchewan

External links

• Blades official web site
• Saskatoon Blades News Coverage (The Star Phoenix)

Sports teams based in Saskatchewan Baseball WMBL: Melville Millionaires · Moose Jaw Express · Regina Red Sox · Saskatoon Yellow Jackets · Swift Current Indians · Weyburn Beavers · Yorkton Cardinals Football CFL: Saskatchewan Roughriders, CJFL: Regina Thunder · Saskatoon Hilltops Hockey WHL: Moose Jaw Warriors · Prince Albert Raiders · Regina Pats · Saskatoon Blades · Swift Current Broncos, AJHL: Lloydminster Bobcats, SJHL: Battlefords North Stars · Estevan Bruins · Flin Flon Bombers · Humboldt Broncos · Kindersley Klippers · La Ronge Ice Wolves · Melfort Mustangs · Melville Millionaires · Nipawin Hawks · Notre Dame Hounds · Weyburn Red Wings · Yorkton Terriers Soccer CMISL: Saskatoon Accelerators Lacrosse RMLL: Saskatchewan SWAT Rugby union RCNJC: Northern Saskatchewan Wolverines · Saskatchewan Prairie Fire, NWL: Saskatchewan Rugby Union Ringette NRL: Saskatoon Wild Canadian Interuniversity Sport University Of Regina Cougars, University Of Regina Rams (football), University Of Saskatchewan Huskies